HOME REMEDIES

URINARY TRACT INFECTION
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. This system may get infected by bacteria (usually E-coli) and produce following signs and symptoms

Sign and symptoms:

• Increased urge to pass urine.
• Pain during micturation in bladder region and urethra
• Burning sensation during micturation
• Fever with chills
• On laboratory analysis one may find large amount of pus cells and a small quantity of blood may also occur.

Since the length of the female urethra is smaller as compared to the male, and also since urethra is wider in females than males, they are more prone to urinary tract infection.

Home remedies

• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water as it helps to wash out the infection
• Drink ¼ cup of onion juice along with 1 tea spoon sugar twice a day. This helps relieve burning sensation
• Mix ½ teaspoon of cumin seed powder and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Take the mixture twice a day.

Diet and lifestyle
Take enough water. One may also take coconut water, barley water, lemon sherbet, etc. if desired
Avid spicy, oily food, tea, coffee, chilli etc in diet
Bacteria that affect urinary system often pass through stools. Hence it is important to clean the anus from front to back after defaecating rather than cleaning it the other way round.
The other mode of transmission of bacteria is through intercourse. Hence pass urine before and after a sexual intercourse and keep the genitals clean.

Ayurvedic remedies
Take 2 tablets of gokshuradi guggulu, thrice a day with 15ml of punarnavasa mixed in equal quantity of warm water. Take the mixture after food as it may trigger acidity.
Tablet chandraprabhavati taken in dose of 1 tablet thrice a day is also effective.
To relieve the burning sensation one may take 20ml of usheerasava or chandanasava with equal amount of warm water after food.

URINARY INCONTINENCE
The inability to control the bladder is known as urinary incontinence. Dribbling of urine and bet wetting are also forms of urinary incontinence. The people who are affected by this disorder are two extremes of the age group i.e., small children and elderly people

Home remedies

• Have a mixture of 1 teaspoon of dry powdered seeds of jamun mixed with water. Take this mixture twice a day
• Give walnut and around 20 raisins each night after dinner for 15-20 days.
• 2 teaspoons of honey can be given before bedtime. If it is to be administered to a child below 6 years of age, a dosage of 1 teaspoon would be sufficient
• Take a mixture of ½ teaspoon of sarshapa and milk at bedtime.

Diet and lifestyle
In case of elders who have lost control over urine, Kegel’s exercise to strengthen pelvic muscles are beneficial. Alternatively ask the patient to practice and stop urinating mid stream for a couple of moments and then resume urinating again. These exercises strengthen the sphincter muscles.
Use hot and cold bags and apply them alternatively on lower abdomen.
Avoid taking tea, coffee, or chocolates
Relax and do not brood over the fact that you can not control the bladder
Incase of children, do not punish, rebuke or ridicule them for bedwetting. Understand that it is not done deliberately. Encourage your child to pass urine just before going to bed. Children could be more anxious and stressed out than we can anticipate so help them to distress.
Massage the patient regularly with bala ashwagandha oil

Ayurvedic remedies
Deworming is important before starting the treatment as worm infestation can lead to bed wetting which would not respond to other remedies
For adults
Tablet chandraprabha vati – 1 tablet to be given daily with warm water
Incase of muscular debility administer 1 tablet of vishtinduk vati thrice daily with ghee and sugar.
For children
Tablet chandraprabhavati - ½ tablet to be given twice a day with warm water
Tablet neo (charka) – 1 tablet can be administered twice daily.

Dr. Purnima Vinod BAMS
Global ayurveda (April-May 2007)